SlickGT1,
I don't think it would be too hard to figure out for an N62 4.8is. I'm thinking out loud here. Honestly, x-drive may not be that hard to work around. It all stays intact. Remember that they made several manuals with x-drive, the X5 and X3, as well as some e60 5 series. Maybe others. Reverse engineer the difference on the electrical computer side. Sounds intimidating, but you'd have an "oh sh*t really?"moment when you see how easy it really it might be.

The e60 550i, GS6-53BZ 6-speed manual tranny would be a good candidate. It should bolt right up. Use all the available bits you can to connect the dots. You'd have to cross the bridge with connecting the T/C, but you have a working template to work from for ideas/solutions.Just throwing some ideas to you. Time and (for me, money too) are the biggest obstacles, but its a project you could be working on for the next year or so for you or anyone wanting to take it on. Imagine tearing the roads up with a manual 4.8is. That would be simply awesome.

__________________
2005 X5 3.0, 6MT, Alpine White on Truffle Brown, Sport, Preim, and Cold Weather, Alpina Stainless Headers, AFe Intake, UUC SSK, OEM 87's, 3.64 Differential Swap,Performance Modified Euro 2 Tune, UUC LTW Flywheel and HD clutch, Bilstein B12 Suspension kit
Future mods ZHP/Schrick Cam Shaft upgrade, Operation code name:Doppelschrauben-Kompressor

Wife's Ride: 2011 e70 X5 351 M///Sport.

Also in the fold: 2004 X3 3.0, 6MT, Black Sapphire on Terracotta, port, Premium, Cold Weather.